Births of freemartins derived from embryos reconstructed with ear fibroblasts

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 63; no. 5; pp. 577 - 578
• Main Authors: Hwang, W.S. (Seoul National Univ., Suwon (Korea R.)), Cho, J.K, Kim, K.Y, Shin, S.J, Kim, S.K, Park, J.I, Kim. D.Y, Lee, J.K, Lim, J.M, Lee, B.C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 01.05.2001; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: ANIMAL EMBRYOS; Animals; ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION; Birth Weight; CATTLE; CELLS; EMBRYO TRANSFER; Embryo Transfer - adverse effects; Embryo Transfer - veterinary; Female; Fibroblasts - physiology; FREEMARTINISM; Freemartinism - etiology; Freemartinism - genetics; Freemartinism - pathology; Insemination, Artificial - adverse effects; Insemination, Artificial - veterinary; Male; Nuclear Transfer Techniques; NUCLEUS; Pregnancy; REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS; somatic cell nuclear transfer; Twins
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.63.577

Although the combination of artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer (ET) is effective for preventing large offspring syndrome in clone cattle production, it may cause freemartinism. In this study, 51 reconstructed embryos were transferred to artificially inseminated recipients. Of those 9 twin pregnancies, three delivered male and female offsprings. The females had tufts of long coarse hair and short blind pouch at the vaginal end. At necropsy, hypoplastic testicles and epididymis, which connected to the uterus through the spermatic cord, were found and seminal vesicles were also noted. All females had mixed sex chromosome configuration (60, XX and 60, XY). These results suggest that the combined ET program can cause freemartinism, which reduces the efficiency of clone cattle production.